"In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7

Over the years I have been privy to watch a few housing booms take place.

About ten years ago, California experienced a huge increase in homes being built in the High Desert area. As you travel along the Cajon Pass, you come to the cities of Oak Hills, Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley. These four cities were not completely built out so new homes were going up quickly and it seemed as if people were moving to the area so fast that builders could not keep up with the demand to build everything as promised. Everywhere you looked, there were signs that said “Under Construction, Please Be Patient, We Aren’t Finished Yet.”

Seeing the “Under Construction Signs” kept people satisfied and waiting for how things would be once the building of new homes, stores and restaurants were completed. The problem was that people’s satisfaction was never fully reached. The prices that needed to be paid for all the homes, amenities and new construction could not be fully funded and maintained. The housing market took a huge hit and eventually crashed. People were left to walk away from homes that they couldn’t afford.

The Apostle Paul reminds us here in the book of Ephesians that just like the construction zones of a new housing track, we too are “Under Construction.”

God isn’t finished with us yet.

We carry the burden of sin that we cannot afford to pay for on our own. In order to meet the demand and pay the price of our sin, God had to send His Son Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Unlike the housing market crash, where there is a rise and fall, depending upon the economy, we cannot read the words of Ephesians 1:7 and overlook the Cross.
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On Calvary, Jesus saved us ​from ourselves by paying full price up front with His redeeming blood.

Christ’s redemption is always a present thing and one thing is for sure, we will always need it. Why? Simply put, because we are always going to be a people in need of a Savior and be “under construction.”

God is at work through His Son Jesus, constantly renewing us, forgiving us of our sins and giving us eternal life, all this according to the riches of His grace.

Grace is defined as: the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. Because of God’s grace, we receive what we don’t deserve, the mercy of a true and loving God.

God lavishes us with the riches of His grace! Our sins are overlooked and dismissed, set aside, ignored and forgiven. We don’t have to hide from our self, each other or God.

Once we become a believer, we get to step over and over again into the acceptance of Christ. We are liberated, freed and restored to usefulness. What a true blessing that God accepts us “under construction sign” and all. The Cross argues on our behalf that the price has already been paid in full and this is what the Apostle Paul calls the riches of God’s grace.
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The cross argues on our behalf that the price has already been paid!

Our achievements in this life, while “under construction,” are not fulfillment for God’s grace. When Christ comes on the scene, into our hearts and present in our lives, there is true and full fulfillment. The building project is completed. There is no more need for an “under construction sign.”

Let us never forget that our achievements in the light of that which is enduring are worthless. In our natural, sinful state, we were useless, not effective or ready for what we were called to do or accomplish. Why do we need to remember this? Because we are prone to look pridefully at our achievements and see them as something they are not, instead of seeing that by God’s grace we are able to accomplish all that we do.

Finally, let’s notice that there is a considerable difference between achievement and fulfillment. There is no satisfaction or usefulness in a person before Christ. Everything is a waste of time. Our achievements disappear. They are worthless. What we really need, money, brains and brilliance can never buy. That is why Ephesians 1:7 demonstrates the need for God’s grace so clearly.

Beloved, with Christ and as a believer, we get to cover up our “Under Construction Sign” with signs that read: I have be forgiven! I have been set free! God fully accepts me! In whom, He is well pleased! By, His blood, I have been made white as snow!

May we never exploit God’s grace. Since we are given continuous grace upon grace and have received the fullness of God’s grace, let us be a people who don’t abuse it. (John 1:16)

We experience grace often and need it all the more. It is His grace that changes us and causes us to see ourselves the way God does all the more, forgiven, whole again, worth a great deal and made in His image.

Oh how He loves us. This is the life of a Christian, redeemed, forgiven and daily in need of God’s grace.

Blessings Soul Friends,​

Today's post is part of our #SoulDeep Scripture Reading Series - #grace

​I'm Misty Keith and ​I am a daughter of the King of all Kings, wife to Richard, Mommy to Reagan (11 years), Kylee (8 years), and Karis Delaney (6 years). I am a teacher by trade, an encourager and up-lifter by calling and a writer by practice. I understood from early adulthood and beyond that I would never fit. The Lord helped me to realize that He called me to stand out and because of this, I am forever grateful and at peace with how He has made me and who He has made me to be.
My family and I live just outside the Austin, Texas area. I homeschool all three of my children and teach Reading for a private college in the Master’s/Credentialing program. I stay busy and enjoy the hobbies of Reading, Writing, Scrap-booking and Running. As a family, we attend Hill Country Bible Church. We enjoy traveling and take “family fieldtrips” often. All of life is an adventure and we are thankful for every life lesson that the Lord teaches us in the process.

Hello Misty! Glad to see you here. Thanks for reminding us of the riches of God's grace. Our sin's been paid in full and up front. We'll never get eviction notices like those folks in California! Blessings, Soul Friend!